US Envoy Steve Witkoff Meets Putin to Discuss Ukraine Peace Proposals
Special U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in St. Petersburg to present Russian President Vladimir Putin with new proposals aimed at ending the war in Ukraine, reported. The diplomatic mission includes organizing direct trilateral talks involving Moscow, Washington, and Kyiv.
Diplomatic Coordination in Oslo
Witkoff’s mission follows a high-level strategic meeting where the envoy conferred with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Jonas Gahr Støre, and Finnish President Alexander Stubb. Jared Kushner, son-in-law to U.S. President Donald Trump, participated remotely via video link due to a bout with flu, according to reporting. U.S. officials described the discussions in Norway as productive, noting that Kyiv brought forward fresh ideas intended to align the diplomatic approach toward Moscow. An American official indicated that the gathering in Oslo involved a broad coalition, including Jonas Gahr Støre, the European Union, NATO, and representatives of the E4 nations—specifically Poland, Germany, France, and the United Kingdom. During the consultations in Oslo, Kyiv presented concrete plans for potential next steps, and the Norwegian prime minister stated that he was pleased they could participate, adding that the goal is to guide diplomatic efforts into more constructive channels.
You cannot talk about the future of Ukraine without Ukraine being at the table,
Zelensky stated during a post-meeting press conference. Norwegian Prime Minister Støre added that European stakeholders must also participate directly if the international community intends to achieve a lasting and fair peace.
Preparing for Trilateral Talks in St. Petersburg
Building on the progress achieved in the Norwegian capital, Witkoff traveled to Russia to deliver the formulated proposals directly to President Putin. The overarching objective of the current outreach is to clear the path for direct negotiations between the three core governments. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters in India, characterized the recent interactions between Washington and Kyiv as positive. Let’s see if we can make any progress,
Rubio remarked.
The diplomatic push seeks to mend diplomatic fractures that deepened following recent policy shifts in Washington. These tensions included U.S. pressure on Kyiv regarding the conflict’s trajectory, the announcement of a bilateral diesel arrangement with Russia, and administrative strain over satellite communication access. Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged Moscow’s appreciation for U.S. mediation efforts, emphasizing that any permanent settlement ultimately requires Kyiv to designate a fully empowered negotiator.
